Successful authors seem born to write. Masked by the ability to put words on paper, (or on screen) it seems these authors have never struggled at all. But in fact, many writers have a disability. Sometimes it’s even the reason they write. According to online blog Mental Up, people like George Bernard Shaw and Jules Verne, are said to have had ADHD. I have been formally diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. I struggle with concentration, readability of text and sticking to one theme. Others have written about disability equipment that aids the writing process.

Similarly, I use various avenues for my own more neuro-oriented disabilities.

Places and mediums for writing

When I started to write, I even had to grapple with the concept of where to write. Writers are often told that certain environments are conducive to creativity. Forget that. “22 Places to Write When You’re Tired of Working at Home” outlines how to diversify workspaces, especially where they become stale.

For those with disabilities, unusual environments are even necessary to creativity. As I need stimulating, dynamic environments to maintain my attention, I work productively amidst the bustling cacophony of cafes or outside amidst the trees. The throb of life seems to resonate with me. I find working off a tiny screen on a mobile phone, by feeble light, in the dark, one of the best mediums to work in. This is because the dark conveys a mysterious ambiance to me, spurring creativity. Scientific research even validates adapted environments as beneficial. According to The British Dyslexic Association, dyslexics absorb content better by reading in slight contrasts, such as light blue on a pastel orange background.

Your favourite genre…or not

I always thought you had to be the master of everything as a writer. That’s not true. While I’ve not had much success with journalistic articles, I have had many personal or first-person essays and opinion style pieces published to date. This is so for me, as the first-person essay is like writing a cathartic letter, in simple format, without getting bogged down by a more objective, journalistic genre. The first person essay is a genre that’s in demand so there are a wealth of opportunities. I’ve had two personal essays published in You and Me Magazine, a consumer-focused medical publication. I have written for a host of other disability and lifestyle magazines about my emotional healing journey and its vagaries. This includes, Yoppvoice, a social justice magazine, that pays $75 for essays, and The Phoenix Spirit,
centering on emotional growth and addiction recovery. They pay $25 to $35 for first person accounts.

The content you write

I don’t just limit my content to disability niches. I have written about freelance writing and its impacts on disability or vice versa. I have written about pets with disabilities, famous authors with disabilities, and celebrities with disabilities, yet all with different target audiences in mind. Sometimes disability topics are not directly called for at all. It’s just a matter of thinking laterally.

I even wrote a poem about how gardening alleviates moodiness and sent it to a gardening magazine. Therefore, there is broad scope for writing about disability or work as a disability writer. This is despite perhaps thinking your ability to write is limited.

Bio:
Kerry Martin Millan is a freelance journalist from Australia, who writes on health and disability topics. She can be reached at kerryr143@gmail.com
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